Drag line excavator



F. LANG DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR July 25, 1933.

Filed Aug. '10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor j iederzi'fi: Z02 2 July 25, 1933. F LANG 7 1,919,228

DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR Filed Aug. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o d 0 4g 0 K *r x Inventor Frederik}: Len a M N F By y 5, 1933. F. LANG DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR Filed Aug. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invnlor feaisla'ck Z02 F. LANG DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR July 25, 1933.

Filed Aug. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 freaaprdtii .Z 429 M F. LANG DRAG LINE EXGAVATOR July 25, 1933.

Filed Aug. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invcnlor M a z m m .m j

Patented July 25, 1933" PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK LANG, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO DRAG LINE nxcavn'ron Application filed August 10, 1932. Serial No. 628,234.

This invention relates to excavators, having particular reference to that type of drag line excavator wherein cable means is employed for causing one or more scoops or Scrapers to travel within the area being excavated under the control of the operator, and a prime object of the present invention is to, provide a drag line excavator apparatus which can be easily handled, and readily 13 shifted from place to place.

The invention, together with its numerous objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompany- 5 ing drawings wherein: t

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the apparatus arranged for excavation work.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a field ri to be' hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the rig taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of one side of the body portion of a motor driven truck illustrating the arrangement of the frame and jib supporting carriages mounted for longitudinal movement thereon.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a cable means for shifting one of the jib supporting carriages.

igure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevational view illustrating the manner of supporting a'carriage on the frame, and also of supporting a jib on the carriage. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a carriage. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a scoop or scra er, illustrating a slightly modified form of t e invention.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the cable means for moving the other of the jib supporting carriages.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a drum and guide pulleys for the scraper actuating cable.

Fi re 11 is a transverse sectional view taken through the rail and one of the pulley sup orting carriages forming part of thefield rig hereinbefore referred to.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an an choring peg.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through a scraper illustrating one manner of connecting a cable therewith and a Figure 1a is a side elevational view showing a take-up means provided on the hail of a scraper and forming part of one form of means for connecting a cable to the bail.

With reference more in detail to the drawexcavating purposes, in accordance with the present-invention, comprises a self-propelled vehicle in the nature of a motor truck indicated generally by the reference character 10 and including among other parts a chassis frame 11 and a wagon box 12, the latter serving to carry the' scrapers and other appurtenances forming part of my improved ap aratus.

ings, it will be seen that the apparatus for n one side of the truck 10 is suitably i mounted a frame structure 13 that may be of. any suitable construction, but is preferably of skeleton box-like construction and it is provided onthat side thereof farthest remote from the truck body with upper and lower rails 14 and 15. These rails are suitably braced as will be clear from a study of ,the drawings. As additional supports. for

the frame'13, therejis provided. at each end thereof-a ground engaging jack 17 suitably connected with the frame, and these jacks will be found especially useful for supporting the frame in e xcavating marsh land, the jacks serving to prevent sagging of the frame.

Constrained to move longitudinally of the frame 13 are two jib-carrylng frames designated generally by the reference characters 18 and 19. Since these carriages are identical in construction it is thought that a detailed description of one will teach the other. Referring now more specifically to Figure 7 it will be seen that each of the aforementioned carriages comprises a substantially rectangular frame 20i-fo'rmecl of angle iron and having the vertical membersthereof on the back side of the frame provided with. blocks 21 to which are secured cleats 22, and it will be noted that the cleats 22, at their upper and lower ends, project beyond the corresponding ends of the blocks 21. As

1 frame a pair of horizontal transverse bars .23 and 24 and, as will be seen from a study of Figure 6, the bar 24 rides upon the upper rail 14 of frame 13.

Each of the aforementioned carriages 18 and 19 supports thereon for swinging movement in a horizontal plane a jib designated generally by the reference character 25. Each jib comprises a pair of spaced parallel inclined arms 26 connected at their lower ends by a relatively short bar 27 which is apertured for accommodating a pivot pin 28 rising from the lower end of the frame 20, and at its upper end the pivot pin 28 is suitably journaled in a bearing carried by a horizontal cross bar 29 provided adjacent the lower end of the frame 20. As shown in Figure 6, each arm 26 of the jib is braced by a bracket 30 which, at its base, is provided with an apertured lug engaging a pivot pin 31 provided on an angle plate 32 bolted or otherwise secured to the cross bar 23.

The frame 20 of each of the aforementioned carriages 18 and 19 is also provided with a cross bar 33 and on the cross bar 33 of carriage 18 is suitably fixed a U-shaped plate 34, and engaged with the sides of the -U-shaped member 34 are eye-bolts 35; and

on the cross bar 33 of the carriage 19. is mounted a U-shaped plate 36 having eyebolts 37 engaged with the sides thereof.

For shifting the carriage; 18 there is provided a shaft 38 transversely mounted on the frame 13'adjacent the forward end of the same, with reference to the motor truck 10,

and a cable 39 is windable on a drum 40 mounted on the shaft 38 to rotate with the shaft. As will be clear from a study of Figures 1 and 5, one end of the cable 39 is trained over a pair of sheaves 41, and a pulley 42 mounted on the frame 13 adjacent the forward end of the frame and is then connected with one of the eye-bolts 35, while the other end of the cable 39 is trained over a like pair of sheaves-43 and a pulley 44 mounted on the frame 13 adjacent the rear end of *the frame and is then connected with the other eye bolt 35 of the member 34. For shifting the carriage 19 a similar arrangement is provided consisting of the shaft 45, drum 46, cable 47, sheaves 48 and 49, and pulleys 50 and 51, the ends of the cable 47 being secured to the eye-bolts 37 as will be seen from a study of Figurc'E). For manual rotation of the shafts 38 and 45, each of said shafts is provided with a hand wheel 52. Obviously, to shift the carriages 18 and 19, all that is nec essary is to rotate in the proper direction shaft 38 or shaft 45 according to which carriage is to be shifted.

Also forming a part of the invention is what may be termed a field rig, the same being designated generally by the reference character 54. This field rig comprises a pair of masts, each consisting of an angular base plate 55 from which rises a pair of spaced parallel angle iron posts 56, the opposed flanges of which are provided with vertically spaced apertures 57. Brace bars 58 brace the posts 56 relative to the base plate 55 as shown in Figure 3. The base plate 55 at the ends thereof is also provided with ground penetrating anchor plates 59. Adapted to be supported between the masts of the rig 54 is a track, the same including a pair of spaced parallel bars 60. The bars 60 are connected, at their ends, by sleeves or the like 61 and pins 62 are provided and pass through the sleeves 61 and the apertures 57 with which said sleeves are alined for supporting the aforementioned track at the desired vertical adjustment and in horizontal position between the masts of the field rig as will be apparent from a study of Figures 2 and 3.

Carriages 63 and 64 are engaged with the bars 60 of the aforementioned rail, and are adapted to move longitudinally along said rail. The carriages 63 and 64 are identical in construction, and a detailed'description of one will teach the other. Thus referring to Figure 11, it will be seen that each carriage comprises a substantially U-shaped member 65 adapted tostraddle'the bars 60 of the aforementioned rail, and at the open end of the U the sides of the member 65 are connected by a plate 66 having flanged ends secured to the sides of the members 65 as at 67, so that said carriage is substantially rectangular in cross section and when in final position .on the rail will be constrained to shift longitudinally of the rail. The body 65 of each carriage has suitablymounted on the top thereof a pulley 68.

The bars 60 carry at their ends suitable brackets 69 between which are journaled pulleys 70 and 71.

Mounted on one of the masts of the rig 54 is a double bracket 71 in which is mounted a drum 72, and windable on the drum 72 is a cable 73 that is trained over a .pulley 74 on the upper end of the aforementioned mast, and is also trained over the pulley 70 and at one end isconnected with the body or frame 65 of the carriage 63. Also mounted on'the bracket 71 is a drum 75 to which is secured one end of a cable 76 that leads from the drum and is trained over a second pulley 77 mounted on the upper end of the aforementioned mast, and the cable then extends from the pulley 77 to a pulley 78 on the upper end of the other mast of the rig 54, and then extends downwardlyover the pulley 71 and has its free end secured to the frame or body 65 of the carriage 64. Each of the drums 72 and 75 is provided with pawl and ratchet means 79 which serve to prevent casual rotation of the said drums. Obvious- I ly, upon winding of the cables 73 and 76 upon the drums 72 and 75, carriages 63 and 64 will be moved along the bars 60 of the track away from one another and toward the masts of the rigs. The means for drawing the carriages 63 and 64 towards one another will be hereinafter made manifest.

The apparatus further-comprises a shaft 7 9 on which are fixedly mounted for rotation therewith drums or winches 80 and 81. A scraper actuated cable 82 has one end secured to the drum 80 and then is passed between a pair of pulleys 83 suitably mounted on the frame 13 to the rear of the rails 14 and 15' of said frame, after which the cable passes between a pair of pulleys 84 mounted in a manner hereinafter made manifest on the frame 20 of carriage 19, and from the pulleys 84 the cable is trained over upper and lower pulleys 85 and 86 suitable mounted between the arms 26 of the mast 25 carried by the frame of said carriage 19. The cable 82 is then connected with the bail 90 of a scraper 87. A second cable 82a. is trained over the sheaves 68 on the carriages 63 and 64 and is connected at its ends with the bails'93 of scrapers 87, 88. A third cable 82?) is connected at one end to bail 90 of scraper 88 and is trained over upper and lower pulleys on the jib supported by the carriage 18, which) latter pulley corresponds to the aforementioned pulleys 85 and 86. From these pulleys the cable 826 is passed between the pulleys 84 mounted on the frame 20 of carriagelB, and from thence passes between pulleys 89 mounted on the frame 13 in alinement with the pulleys 83, and the other end of the cable is then secured to the drum 81. In this connection, it is to be noted that the ends'of the cables 82, 82?) are oppositely windable on the drums 80 and 81 so that while one drum is y paying out the cable associated therewith, the

" with hooks 91 as shown in Figure 6 to engage eyes provided on said bails as shown in Figure '8. The ends of cable 82a as shown in Figures 1 and 13 are secured to drums 92 rotatably supported on forks provided at the ends of bails 93 of the scrapers 87 and 88, and provided with dog and ratchet means 94 whereby the ends of said cable 820 may be either wound upon said drums or paid out therefrom for regulating the active length ofsaid cable, or if desired, the ends of the cable 82a may be tied or otherwise secured to eyes 95 provided on the bails 93 in lieu of the drum supporting forks above referred to, as shown in Figure 8.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the cable 82a trained about the pulle s 68, either of the carriages 63 and 64 may moved towards the center of the track bars 60 in the following manner: Assuming it is desired to move the carriage 63 toward the center of the rail of the rig 54, all that is necessary is to pay out the cable 73 so as to provide a slack in the cable, and the winding of the cables 82, 82?) upon the drums 80 and 81 will serve to move said carriage 63 towards the center of the rail formed by the bars 60 as is thought apparent. To provide both forward and reverse drives for the drums .80 and 81, a conventional and well-known'type of power take-off device 96 equipped with both forward and reverse drive means is suitably connected with the internal combustion engine of the truck 10, and includes among other parts a suitably mounted shaft 97 having a chain and sprocket drive connection98 with an intermediate shaft 99 that in turnis connected with the shaft 79 through suitable gcaring100.so that it willbe seen that power will be transmitted from the shaft 97 to the shaft 99, and from the shaft 99 to the shaft 79 for rotating the drums 80 and 81 in a suitable direction so that one of the drums will pay out while the other drum receives the cable associated therewith whereby the scrapers 87 and 88 are caused to move simultaneously but in relatively opposite directions so that when one filled scraper is approaching one end of the area to be excavated, an unldaded scraper is lnoving toward the relatively opposite end of said area.

In using the apparatus, and as shown in Figure 1, the truck 10 is arranged at one end of the area to be excavated while the ring 54 is set up at, a relatively opposite end of the area; after which the carriages 18 and 19, 63 and 64 may be adjusted as desired for causing the scrapers 87 and 88 to move either inparallel paths from one end to the other of the area between the truck 10 and the rig 54, or in diagonal paths approaching either at a point adjacent the truck 10 or the rig 54.

For anchoring the truck 10 in position, anchoring cables 101 are. provided at the corners of the chassis frame 11 at that side of the frame remote from the frame 13, and these cables or Ehains are suitably secured to anchoring pegs 102. To provide for anchoring in a minimum amount of time, and at the same time provide a strong and positive anchor, 1' use ananchoring peg of the construction clearly shown in Figure 12. As Will]. be 7 noted three properly and advantageously arranged pegs 102 are provided for each cable 101. j

For anchoring the field rig 54 in place, I also provide for each mast of the field rig an anchoring cable 103 that is suitably secured at one end to one of the posts 56 of the mast, and is then suitably secured to three anchoring pegs 104. The second anchoring cable 105 is secured at one endto the other of the posts 56, and at its other end is secured to a single peg 106. In this connection it will be noted that the cables 103 and 105 diverge from one another.

VVhen shifting theapparatus from place to place it will be seen that the several parts of the rig 54 may be separated and placed Within the wagon box 12 of the truck. The wagon box '12 will also accommodate the scrapers 87 and 88 and other such parts of the apparatus as the operator may see lit to store within the wagon box. J

It will also be noted that in operation a downward pull is exerted on the portions of the cables 82, 827) trained over the pulleys 85 carried by the jibs 25 with the result that the vertical members of the frames 20 of the carriages 18 and 19, adjacent the lower portions thereof will be caused to bind against the lower rail 15 with the result that the carriages are securely retained in position on the frame 13.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of further changes, modifications, and improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an excavating apparatus, aself-propelled vehicle, a frame laterally mounted on the vehicle, carriages mounted on the frame and movable longitudinally thereof, jibs carried by the carriages, pulleys mounted on the jibs, a field rig mounted adjacent said vehicle, and including a horizontal rail paralleling the vehicle, carriages mounted on the rail for movement longitudinally thereof, pulleys on the carriages, a pair ofdrums r0? tatably mounted on the vehicle, a pair of scrapers, a cable trained over the pulleys on the carriages on said rail and connecting the rear ends of said scrapers, cables oppositely longitudinal movement, jibs mounted on said carriages for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, pulleys carried by said jibs; a pair of masts arranged adjacent said vehicle, a track supported between said masts, carriages engaging said track and movable longitudinally thereof, pulleys on said carriages, means for shifting the carriages on said frame, means for shifting the carriages on said track, a pair of drums rotatably supported on said vehicle, cables trained over the pulleys on said'jibs, and having end portions oppositely wound on said drums, scrapers connected at one end with said cables, a third cable connecting said scrapers and trained over the pulleys on the last named carriages, a power take-off deviceconnected with the prime mover of said vehicle, and power transmitting means connecting said power takeoff device with said drums for simultaneously rotating the same in either of two directions. 3. In an excavating apparatus, a frame member, supporting means therefor, a trackspaced from said frame member and extending in parallelism thereto, supporting means for said track, a carriage on said frame memher, a carriage on said track, a jib supported on the first named carriage, pulleys carried by said jib, a pulley mounted on the carriage movable over said track, means for shifting the first named carriage relative to the frame, means for shifting the second named carriage in one direction relative to the track, cable means trained over the pulleys on said jib and also over the pulley on the carriage movable over the track, a scraper connected with said cable means, winch means for paying out and taking up said cable means, and said cable means also serving as a means for moving the carriage on said track in a second direction along said track.

FREDERICK LANG. 

